Dr. Evangeline Parsons Yazzie is the Sundays at the Smoki Guest Speaker for the month of August 2009. Dr. Parsons’s lecture will be held on August 9, 2009

at 1:00pm.

In 2008, Dr. Evangeline Parsons Yazzie co-authored a Navajo

language textbook entitled  “Rediscovering the Navajo Language”. This 448 page textbook provides a verb-based introduction to the Navajo language for college and secondary students. The cultural lessons in this book emphasize the importance of family ties, a respect for oneself, and pride in the strength that allowed the Navajo people to endure years of hardship. This book is inspired by a belief that the Navajo culture is very relevant to the lives of Navajo youth, and there need not be a clash between the wisdom of Navajo elders and the beliefs of contemporary Navajo families.

Dr. Evangeline Parsons Yazzie is a Professor of Navajo at Northern Arizona University (NAU). She obtained an MA in Bilingual Multicultural Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from NAU.  Evangeline teaches her native language, mostly to Navajo students wanting to learn the language of their  grandparents, and also to native speakers whose goal is to become literate in their own language.

Evangeline is a Navajo, originally from the community of Hardrock on the Navajo Reservation. As a means of acknowledging and honoring her deceased parents for their gift of language, culture-knowledge, and Navajo teachings, Evangeline teaches and writes on the behalf of elders, and encourages others to honor their elders.

Evangeline is also the author of Dzání Yázhí Naazbaa’: Little Woman Warrior Who Came Home. This book has received multiple awards and honors, among them the 2007 Lacapa Spirit Prize for Narrative, the 2007 Storytelling World Award, and being named a 2006 Notable Children’s Social Studies Trade Book.

Smoki Museum First Annual Bizarre Bazaar!!

September 5, 8 AM to 2 PM in the Pueblo Building

A variety of items donated by friends and members of the Museum were sold at this new event.  These items included works of art, craft items, books, CDs, videos, DVDs, furniture, andworking appliances – but no clothing, shoes or hats.  All proceeds from the sale wient to the Smoki Museum.  About 100 books and monographs on Southwest Indian Culture, Anthropology, Ethnology and Archaeology from the Museum’s library were offered for sale. but nothing from the Museum’s collection was included.

CHACO CANYON TOUR

September 12 & 13

This visit to the impressive Chaco Canyon National

Historic Park in New Mexico included a guided tour and

lecture by professional archaeologist, Wolcott Toll, Ph.D.  

Participants chose between accommodations at a

nearby campsite or motel with those at the campsite

getting to witness some impressive weather events.  

Participants thanked Dr. Toll and coordinator Ron

Robinson for an excellent learning experience.

Pueblo Bonito at Chaco Canyon